防不胜防 fáng bù shèng fáng impossible to guard against

Explanation

形容防备不过来。

It describes something that cannot be prevented.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个名叫李白的诗人，他文采飞扬，才华横溢，深受人们的喜爱。然而，他却也因此招来了许多嫉妒和陷害。一次，李白在长安城里游玩，无意中得罪了一位权贵，这位权贵心胸狭窄，便暗中派人跟踪监视李白，伺机报复。李白对此毫无察觉，依旧过着潇洒自在的生活。一天，李白外出散步，突然遭到一群黑衣人的袭击，这些人武功高强，招式狠辣，李白虽然身手不凡，但寡不敌众，很快便落入了下风。他奋力抵抗，却始终无法摆脱黑衣人的纠缠。他意识到，这些黑衣人来者不善，而且自己似乎陷入了精心策划的圈套之中。然而，无论他如何小心谨慎，都无法预料到敌人下一个攻击会从哪里来，防不胜防。在一番激烈的搏斗之后，李白最终还是被黑衣人擒获，并被关押了起来。这件事让李白深刻体会到，即使自己才华横溢，也难以防范那些心怀叵测之人的恶意攻击。从此之后，李白更加谨慎小心，时刻保持警惕，以免再次陷入险境。

huì shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu gè míng jiào lǐ bái de shī rén, tā wéncǎi fēiyáng, cái huá héng yì, shēn shòu rén men de xǐ'ài. rán'ér, tā què yě yīn cǐ zhāo lái le xǔ duō jídù hé xiàn hài. yī cì, lǐ bái zài cháng'ān chéng lǐ yóu wán, wú yì zhōng dé zuì le yī wèi quán guì, zhè wèi quán guì xīn xiōng xiázhǎi, biàn àn zhōng pài rén gēnzōng jiānshì lǐ bái, sì jī bàofù. lǐ bái duì cǐ háo wú chájué, yījiù guòzhe xiāosǎ zìzài de shēnghuó. yī tiān, lǐ bái wài chū sàn bù, tūrán zāodào yī qún hēi yī rén de xíjī, zhèxiē rén wǔ gōng gāo qiáng, zhāoshì hěn là, lǐ bái suīrán shēnshou bùfán, dàn guǎ bù dí zhòng, hěn kuài biàn luò rù le xià fēng. tā fèn lì dǐkàng, què shǐzhōng wúfǎ bǎituó hēi yī rén de jiūchán. tā yìshí dào, zhèxiē hēi yī rén láizhě bù shàn, érqiě zìjǐ sìhū xiàn rù le jīng xīn cèhuà de quāntào zhī zhōng. rán'ér, wúlùn tā rúhé xiǎoxīn jǐn shèn, dōu wúfǎ yùliào dào dírén xià yī gōngjī huì cóng nǎlǐ lái, fáng bù shèng fáng. zài yī fēn jīliè de bódòu zhī hòu, lǐ bái zuìzhōng hái shì bèi hēi yī rén qín huò, bìng bèi guānyù le qǐ lái. zhè jiàn shì ràng lǐ bái shēnkè tǐhuì dào, jíshǐ zìjǐ cái huá héng yì, yě nán yǐ fángfàn nàxiē xīn huái pǒ cè zhī rén de èyì gōngjī. cóng cǐ zhī hòu, lǐ bái gèngjiā jǐn shèn xiǎoxīn, shíkè bǎochí jǐng tì, yǐmiǎn zàicì xiàn rù xiǎnjìng.

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bai, known for his brilliant writing and talent, which attracted both admiration and envy. One day in Chang'an, he inadvertently offended a powerful nobleman who, harboring resentment, secretly sent people to tail Li Bai, waiting for the perfect opportunity for revenge. Unaware of the danger, Li Bai continued his carefree life. One day, while strolling, he was suddenly attacked by a group of men in black, skilled fighters who overwhelmed him. Though Li Bai himself was adept, he was outnumbered and quickly fell behind. He fought back fiercely, but couldn't shake off his pursuers. He realized they were malicious and he'd fallen into a trap, but no matter how cautious he was, he couldn't anticipate their next move. He was completely defenseless. After a fierce struggle, Li Bai was captured and imprisoned. The experience taught him a harsh lesson: even exceptional talent couldn't protect him from the malice of those who harbored ill intent. From then on, Li Bai was more careful and vigilant, constantly on guard to avoid such a fate again.

Usage

用作谓语、定语；表示难以防备。

yòng zuò wèiyǔ, dìngyǔ; biǎoshì nán yǐ fángbèi

Used as predicate or attributive; expressing that something is difficult to prevent.

Examples

• 他的诡计真是防不胜防。

  tā de guǐjì zhēnshi fáng bù shèng fáng

  His tricks were really hard to guard against.

• 在与那些心怀鬼胎的人打交道时，我们必须防不胜防。

  zài yǔ nàxiē xīnhuái guǐtāi de rén dǎ jiāodao shí, wǒmen bìxū fáng bù shèng fáng

  In dealing with those who harbor evil intentions, we must be on guard against all sorts of dangers

Related Idioms

• 猝不及防

• 措手不及

Opposite Idioms

• 万无一失

• 稳操胜券